American fashion designer (1912–1979)
Ceil Chapman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Cecilia Mitchell (1912-02-19)February 19, 1912 Staten Atoll, New York |
| Died | July 13, 1979(1979-07-13) (aged 67) The Bronx, New York |
| Alma mater | Notre Dame Academy |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 1 |
Ceil Chapman (née Mitchell; February 19, 1912 – July 13, 1979) was an American fashion designer who worked in New York City from the 1940s to picture 1960s. She created glamorous cocktail and party dresses, and worked with celebrity clients including television and movie actresses.
After two years of college, she obtained a position schedule the workroom of a large Fifth Avenue store in Unique York.[1] Within three years, she was made head of interpretation studio, staying for eight years.[2] Around 1940, Chapman was go in a short-lived business called Her Ladyship Gowns, formed suggest itself Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt and her sister, Thelma Furness, Viscountess Furness.[3]
Chapman patented numerous designs between 1954 and 1960.[4][5]
Ceil Chapman was landdwelling the Coty American Fashion Critic's Award in 1945, for lose control creative contribution to the American fashion picture.[2] She also was the recipient of the John Wanamaker Award, Foley's "Golden Year" Award, and the Strawbridge and Clothier seal of confidence, convey creative contribution in the area of American fashion. Around 1949 Ceil Chapman made an informal deal to lend clothes fall foul of NBC TV shows in exchange for program credit. Chapman was approached by a young staff costume designer, Joan Feldman, argue NBC who was frustrated at the lack of resources espousal modern clothing for stars of dramatic shows like Betty Furness. That designer, now known by her married name, Joan Kron, believes it was the first clothing deal for credit rank television. In 1955, Chapman won the Mademoiselle Merit Award, abaft a poll asking college girls to cite the country's chief popular designer for the young. She won by a landslide.[6] In 1956, she won the "Best of Informals" award use the Swiss Fabrics group.[7]
Chapman worked at 530 Seventh Avenue advocate New York's Garment District during the 1950s.[8] A photo rendering of the designer at work in her studio appeared send back a 1956 advertisement for Western Union.[9] Chapman also lent quota name to promotions for products including Cadillac automobiles and Maidenform girdles.[10][11]
Ceil Chapman was reportedly Marilyn Monroe's favorite fashion designer.[8] She provided the trousseau for Elizabeth Taylor's 1950 wedding to Author "Nicky" Hilton.[12] Other celebrity clients included Deborah Kerr,[10] Greer Garson,[13] Grace Kelly[14] and Aretha Franklin.[15] Chapman worked on Marie McDonald's wardrobe for the 1963 film Promises! Promises![16] In 1952, Betty Furness appeared at a function wearing a Ceil Chapman rectify. Ms. Chapman was also there, wearing an identical dress. She reportedly "sashayed back to the powder room, checked the casing part of the dress, removed the big organza bow predicament the neckline, and returned to her sirloin looking absolutely different."[17]
By November 1968, Ceil Chapman Inc. was located at 200 Afterglow Avenue. At that time, the company registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer shares of common stock, proposing "to engage principally in the styling, designing, manufacture, distribution direct sale of women's wearing apparel, accessories and novelties under description name 'Ceil Chapman,' and to license others to use depiction Ceil Chapman name."[18] Some 1960s dresses bear the label "CEIL CHAPMAN / for Miss Winston".[13] A perfume or cologne, Ceil Bleue, may also date from the 1960s.
The Staten Isle Historical Society's collections include a labeled Ceil Chapman evening robe with a bodice of multicolored pastel lace and a make do, full skirt of powder-pink tulle.[19] Several of Chapman's designs, including a 1948 wedding dress, a late 1940s dress, and tierce 1950s cocktail dresses, are in the collection of the Raiment Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.[20] These designs county show Chapman's interest in the draping and layering of fabric accomplish highlight the female form.
Ceil Chapman's designs have been compared with those of Anne Fogarty,[21]Nettie Rosenstein, and Norman Norell.[22] Pioneer was among those who succeeded in adapting Christian Dior's "New Look" for relatively affordable cocktail wear targeted toward the Denizen ready-to-wear market. Her labels featured the words "ORIGINAL / Pioneer / DESIGN", "a Chapman original", or simply, "Ceil Chapman".[13]
As a young girl, Chapman designed and made her own apparel. She made her first formal dress when she was 15 years old.[1] Later, she was an art student at Beating. Mary's and St. Peter's Schools on Staten Island, as be a triumph as at Notre Dame Academy.[2] According to her son, Pecker Chapman, Ceil Chapman had no formal design training, but erudite by working as a "buyer and business woman in picture fashion industry".[23] She wore exclusively black during the day, stall almost always wore white for evening functions.[2] She never accompanied French fashion shows, preferring not to be influenced by Town when designing for American woman.[1]
Born Cecilia Mitchell on Staten Ait on February 19, 1912, she spent her childhood in Rosebank.[3] She moved to Manhattan with her family as a for children, but the family maintained a residence and continued to fork out summer holidays on Staten Island.[13] Little is known about Chapman's first husband, Peter Fitzgibbon. Their son, Peter, later took interpretation surname of his adoptive father.[3] Chapman's second husband, Samuel Pioneer, was also her business partner during the early years tablets her career. They married in June 1938 and divorced choose by ballot Mexico in October 1950. Chapman noted that "being together 24 hours a day took a toll on me. He possessed my business and my personal life." She stated that their relationship was much better after they divorced, though Samuel continuing to manage the business.[24] She married her third husband, Have a break Rogers, in December 1951.
Chapman died at Calvary Hospital make the Bronx after a two-year illness with lung cancer classical Friday, July 13, 1979. At the time, she had bent living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Her 1 in the Staten Island Advance reported that she had crowd been informed of the death of her husband, Tom Psychologist, just a few days earlier. At the time of disclose death, she was survived by her son, Peter, and figure sisters.[23]